kindling　for　the　suffering　people　of　Baza；　and　an　inclination　to　grant　them　more　favorable　terms。　　He　sent；　therefore；　several　messages　to　the　alcayde　Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan　offering　liberty　of　person　and　security　of　property　for　the　inhabitants　and　large　rewards　for　himself　if　he　would　surrender　the　city。
  The　veteran　was　not　to　be　dazzled　by　the　splendid　offers　of　the　monarch：　he　had　received　exaggerated　accounts　of　the　damage　done　to　the　Christian　camp　by　the　late　storm；　and　of　the　sufferings　and　discontents　of　the　army　in　consequence　of　the　transient　interruption　of　supplies：　he　considered　the　overtures　of　Ferdinand　as　proofs　of　the　desperate　state　of　his　affairs。　　〃A　little　more　patience；　a　little　more　patience；〃　said　the　shrewd　old　warrior；　〃and　we　shall　see　this　cloud　of　Christian　locusts　driven　away　before　the　winter　storms。　　When　they　once　turn　their　backs；　it　will　be　our　turn　to　strike；　and；　with　the　help　of　Allah；　the　blow　shall　be　decisive。〃　　He　sent　a　firm　though　courteous　refusal　to　the　Castilian　monarch；　and　in　the　mean　time　animated　his　companions　to　sally　forth　with　more　spirit　than　ever　to　attack　the　Spanish　outposts　and　those　laboring　in　the　trenches。　　The　consequence　was　a　daily　occurrence　of　daring　and　bloody　skirmishes　that　cost　the　lives　of　many　of　the　bravest　and　most　adventurous　cavaliers　of　either　army。
  In　one　of　these　sallies　nearly　three　hundred　horse　and　two　thousand　foot　mounted　the　heights　behind　the　city　to　capture　the　Christians　who　were　employed　upon　the　works。　　They　came　by　surprise　upon　a　body　of　guards；　esquires　of　the　count　de　Urena；　killed　some；　put　the　rest　to　flight；　and　pursued　them　down　the　mountain　until　they　came　in　sight　of　a　small　force　under　the　count　de　Tendilla　and　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova。　　The　Moors　came　rushing　down　with　such　fury　that　many　of　the　men　of　the　count　de　Tendilla　took　to　flight。　　The　count　braced　his　buckler；　grasped　his　trusty　weapon；　and　stood　his　ground　with　his　accustomed　prowess。　　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova　ranged　himself　by　his　side；　and；　marshalling　the　troops　which　remained　with　them；　they　made　a　valiant　front　to　the　Moors。
  The　infidels　pressed　them　hard；　and　were　gaining　the　advantage　when　Alonso　de　Aguilar；　hearing　of　the　danger　of　his　brother　Gonsalvo；　flew　to　his　assistance；　accompanied　by　the　count　of　Urena　and　a　body　of　their　troops。　　A　fight　ensued　from　cliff　to　cliff　and　glen　to　glen。　　The　Moors　were　fewer　in　number；　but　excelled　in　the　dexterity　and　lightness　requisite　for　scrambling　skirmishes。　　They　were　at　length　driven　from　their　vantage…ground；　and　pursued　by　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　his　brother　Gonsalvo　to　the　very　suburbs　of　the　city；　leaving　many　of　their　bravest　men　upon　the　field。
  Such　was　one　of　innumerable　rough　encounters　daily　taking　place；　in　which　many　brave　cavaliers　were　slain　without　apparent　benefit　to　either　party。　　The　Moors；　notwithstanding　repeated　defeats　and　losses；　continued　to　sally　forth　daily　with　astonishing　spirit　and　vigor；　and　the　obstinacy　of　their　defence　seemed　to　increase　with　their　sufferings。
  The　prince　Cid　Hiaya　was　ever　foremost　in　these　sallies；　but　grew　daily　more　despairing　of　success。　　All　the　money　in　the　military　chest　was　expended；　and　there　was　no　longer　wherewithal　to　pay　the　hired　troops。　　Still；　the　veteran　Mohammed　undertook　to　provide　for　this　emergency。　　Summoning　the　principal　inhabitants；　he　represented　the　necessity　of　some　exertion　and　sacrifice　on　their　part　to　maintain　the　defence　of　the　city。　　〃The　enemy；〃　said　he；　〃dreads　the　approach　of　winter；　and　our　perseverance　drives　him　to　despair。　　A　little　longer；　and　he　will　leave　you　in　quiet　enjoyment　of　your　homes　and　families。　　But　our　troops　must　be　paid　to　keep　them　in　good　heart。　　Our　money　is　exhausted　and　all　our　supplies　are　cut　off。　　It　is　impossible　to　continue　our　defence　without　your　aid。〃
  Upon　this　the　citizens　consulted　together；　and　collected　all　their　vessels　of　gold　and　silver　and　brought　them　to　Mohammed。　　〃Take　these；〃　said　they；　〃and　coin　or　sell　or　pledge　them　for　money　wherewith　to　pay　the　troops。〃　　The　women　of　Baza　also　were　seized　with　generous　emulation。　　〃Shall　we　deck　ourselves　with　gorgeous　apparel；〃　said　they；　〃when　our　country　is　desolate　and　its　defenders　in　want　of　bread？〃　　So　they　took　their　collars　and　bracelets　and　anklets　and　other　ornaments　of　gold；　and　all　their　jewels；　and　put　them　in　the　hands　of　the　veteran　alcayde。　　〃Take　these　spoils　of　our　vanity；〃　said　they；　〃and　let　them　contribute　to　the　defence　of　our　homes　and　families。　　If　Baza　be　delivered；　we　need　no　jewels　to　grace　our　rejoicing；　and　if　Baza　fall；　of　what　avail　are　ornaments　to　the　captive？〃
  By　these　contributions　was　Mohammed　enabled　to　pay　the　soldiery　and　carry　on　the　defence　of　the　city　with　unabated　spirit。
  Tidings　were　speedily　conveyed　to　King　Ferdinand　of　this　generous　devotion　on　the　part　of　the　people　of　Baza；　and　the　hopes　which　the　Moorish　commanders　gave　them　that　the　Christian　army　would　soon　abandon　the　siege　in　despair。　　〃They　shall　have　a　convincing　proof　of　the　fallacy　of　such　hopes；〃　said　the　politic　monarch：　so　he　wrote　forthwith　to　Queen　Isabella　praying　her　to　come　to　the　camp　in　state；　with　all　her　train　and　retinue；　and　publicly　to　take　up　her　residence　there　for　the　winter。　　By　this　means　the　Moors　would　be　convinced　of　the　settled　determination　of　the　sovereigns　to　persist　in　the　siege　until　the　city　should　surrender；　and　he　trusted　they　would　be　brought　to　speedy　capitulation。
  CHAPTER　LXXX。
  HOW　QUEEN　ISABELLA　ARRIVED　AT　THE　CAMP；　AND　THE　　　　　CONSEQUENCES　OF　HER　ARRIVAL。
  Mohammed　Ibn　Hassan　still　encouraged　his　companions　with　hopes　that　the　royal　army　would　soon　relinquish　the　siege；　when　they　heard　one　day　shouts　of　joy　from　the　Christian　camp　and　thundering　salvos　of　artillery。　　Word　was　brought　at　the　same　time；　from　the　sentinels　on　the　watch…towers；　that　a　Christian　army　was　approaching　down　the　valley。　　Mohammed　and　his　fellow…commanders　ascended　one　of　the　highest　towers　of　the　walls；　and　beheld　in　truth　a　numerous　force　in　shining　array　descending　the　hills；　and　heard　the　distant　clangor　of　the　trumpet　and　the　faint　swell　of　triumphant　music。
  As　the　host　drew　nearer　they　descried　a　stately　dame　magnificently　attired；　whom　they　soon　discovered　to　be　the　queen。　　She　was　riding　on　a　mule　the　sumptuous　trappings　of　which　were　resplendent　with　gold　and　reached　to　the　ground。　　On　her　right　hand　rode　her　daughter；　the　princess　Isabella；　equally　splendid　in　her　array；　and　on　her　left　the　venerable　grand　cardinal　of　Spain。　　A　noble　train　of　ladies　and　cavaliers　followed；　together　with　pages　and　esquires；　and　a　numerous　guard　of　hidalgos　of　high　rank　arrayed　in　superb　armor。　When　the　veteran　Mohammed　beheld　the　queen　thus　arriving　in　state　to　take　up　her　residence　in　the　camp；　he　shook　his　head　mournfully；　and；　turning　to　his　captains；　〃Cavaliers；〃　said　he；　〃the　fate　of　Baza　is　decided。〃
  The　Moorish　commanders　remained　gazing　with　a　mingled　feeling　of　grief　and　admiration　at　this　magnificent　pageant；　which　foreboded　the　fall　of　their　city。　　Some　of　the　troops　would　have　sallied　forth　on　one　of　their　desperate　skirmishes　to　attack　the　royal　guard；　but　the　prince　Cid　Hiaya　forbade　them；　nor　would　he　allow　any　artillery　to　be　discharged　or　any　molestation　or　insult　offered；　for　the　character　of　Isabella　was　venerated　even　by　the　Moors；　and　most　of　the　commanders　possessed　that　high　and　chivalrous　courtesy　which　belongs　to　heroic　spirits；　for　they　were　among　the　noblest　and　bravest　of　the　Moorish　cavaliers。
  The　inhabitants　of　Baza　eagerly　sought　every　eminence　that　could　command　a　view　of　the　plain；　and　every　battlement　and　tower　and　mosque　was　covered　with　turbaned　heads　gazing　at　the　glorious　spectacle。　　They　beheld　King　Ferdinand　issue　forth　in　royal　state；　attended　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz；　the　master　of　Santiago；　the　duke　of　Alva；　the　admiral　of　Castile；　and　many　other　nobles　of　renown；　while　the　whole　chivalry　of　the　camp；　sumptuously　arrayed；　followed　in　his　train；　and　the　populace　rent　the　air　with　acclamations　at　the　sight　of　the　patriotic　queen。
  When　the　sovereigns　had　met　and　embraced；　the　two　hosts　mingled　together　and　entered　the　camp　in　martial　pomp；　and　the　eyes　of　the　infidel　beholders　were　dazzled　by　the　flash　of　armor；　the　splendor　of　golden　caparisons；　the　gorgeous　display　of　silks；　brocades；　and　velvets；　of　tossing　plumes　and　fluttering　banners。　　There　was　at　the　same　time　a　triumphant　sound　of　drums　and　trumpets；　clarions　and　sackbuts；　mingled　with　the　sweet　melody　of　the　dulcimer；　which　came　swelling　in　bursts　of　harmony　that　seemed　to　rise　up　to　the　heavens。*
  *Cura　de　los　Palacios；　c。　92。
  On　the　arrival　of　the　queen　（says　the　historian　Hernando　del　Pulgar；　who　was　present　at　the　time）　it　was　marvellous　to　behold　how　all　at　once　the　rigor　and　turbulence　of　war　were　softened　and　the　storm　of　passion　sank　into　a　calm。　　The　sword　was　sheathed；　the　crossbow　no　longer　launched　its　deadly　shafts；　and　the　artillery；　which　had　hitherto　kept　up　an　incessant　uproar；　now　ceased　its　thundering。　On　both　sides　there　was　still　a　vigilant　guard　kept　up；　the　sentinels　bristled　the　walls　of　Baza　with　their　lances；　and　the　guards　patrolled　the　Christian　camp；　but　there　was　no　sallyin